How to be More Transparent

It happens quickly.

We’re in a group setting and someone says something or what’s even more likely, doesn’t say anything, but acts in a way that’s off-putting.

Maybe they roll their eyes. Maybe they’re checking their phone in the middle of your presentation. Maybe they just look bored.

And before we know it, we find ourselves feeling defensive.

Soon, we’re thinking differently about who they are, how much we trust them, and without even knowing it, we start to treat them differently.

All that’s required to keep us from jumping to such conclusions is choosing to be more transparent and today’s video offers a strategy to do just that.

Yes, this is not easy.

If it were, we wouldn’t struggle with this.

The truth is, most of us have held others to unspoken expectations and jumped to conclusions without making our thoughts and feelings clear.

If we want to be more productive, collaborative, and effective in our personal and professional communication, we need to learn to speak what’s on our minds while inquiring about what the other person is thinking and feeling.

And as uncomfortable as that might be, it’s still the better route than harboring ill will due to assumptions.